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Vanessa M. Macias

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Biological Sciences

(940) 565-2599

Email: Vanessa.Macias@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, University of California, Irvine, 2015
    Major: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
  • MS, New Mexico State University, 2010
    Major: Biology
  • BS, New Mexico State University, 2007
    Major: Microbiology

Professional Positions

    Government

  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, National Institutes of Health Center for Scientific Review. National Institutes of Health Center for Scientific Review. (2024 - 2024).

Professional Memberships

  • Society of Vector Ecology. (June 22, 2022 - Present).
  • Entomological Society of America. (March 1, 2016 - Present).
  • American Society for Tropical Medicine and Health. (March 1, 2013 - Present).
  • Graduate Women in Science. (March 1, 2013 - Present).

Development Activities

  • Faculty Fellowship, DC Fellows 2023-2024, UNT VPRI. Denton,TX,United States of America. (November 2023 - April 11, 2024).
  • Self-Study Program, Faculty First Flight 2021-2022, UNT Office of Faculty Success. Denton,TX,United States of America. (August 2021 - June 2022).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • BIOC 5950 - Master's Thesis, 3 courses.
  • BIOL 3770 - Biotechnology, 4 courses.
  • BIOL 3996 - Honors College Mentored Research Experience, 1 course.
  • BIOL 4460 - Eukaryotic Genetics, 3 courses.
  • BIOL 4900 - Special Problems, 3 courses.
  • BIOL 5460 - Eukaryotic Genetics, 3 courses.
  • BIOL 5950 - Master's Thesis, 1 course.
  • BIOL 6940 - Individual Research, 7 courses.

Teaching at Other Institutions

  • The Pennsylvania State University, Spring 2017.

Non-Credit Instruction

  • Guest Lecture, UNT, 10 participants. (September 5, 2024 - September 10, 2024).
  • Guest Lecture, UNT, 10 participants. (February 26, 2024 - February 26, 2024).

Directed Student Learning

  • Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Biological Sciences. (November 2024).
  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, Biological Sciences. (October 3, 2024).
  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science. (September 23, 2024).
  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science. (September 20, 2024).
  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, Biological Sciences. (August 1, 2024).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, Biological Sciences. (July 24, 2024).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, "Wild Turkey Landscape Genetics in Texas," Biological Sciences. (June 21, 2024).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, "Effect of PHM-2 [gene] and PRPF-4 [gene] on C. elegans reproductive lifespan," Biological Sciences. (January 19, 2024).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair, "Fitness impact of transgene elements in Cas9-expressing transgenic Anopheles stephensi lines.," Biological Sciences. (January 16, 2024).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Chair, "Baculovirus Delivery of dsRNA to Mosquito Ovaries," Biological Sciences. (September 2023).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Chair, "Holobiont genomics for exploring the roles of small RNAs in mosquito-microbe communications," Biological Sciences. (August 2023).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Chair, "Using vivo morpholinos as alternative to dsRNA to achieve knockdown of piRNA associated genes within Aedes aegypti," Biological Sciences. (September 2022).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Chair, "UNDERSTANDING ANTIBIOTIC EFFECTS ON MICROBIAL GROWTH IN ANOPHELES STEPHENSI MOSQUITOES: CORRELATING OPTICAL DENSITY MEASUREMENTS WITH QPCR ANALYSIS," Biological Sciences. (January 2022 - March 18, 2024).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, "Sequence and Structural Determinants of microRNA Long-Distance Movement in Arabidopsis Plants," Biological Sciences. (September 11, 2023 - October 27, 2023).
  • Supervised Research, Other - Outside UNT. (February 1, 2018 - June 1, 2021).
  • Supervised Research, Other - Outside UNT. (June 1, 2019 - June 1, 2020).
  • Undergraduate Honors Thesis, Other - Outside UNT. (September 1, 2017 - June 1, 2020).
  • Supervised Research, Other - Outside UNT. (November 1, 2019 - December 20, 2019).
  • Supervised Research, Other - Outside UNT. (September 1, 2016 - June 1, 2017).
  • Supervised Research, Other - Outside UNT. (September 1, 2014 - August 1, 2015).
  • Supervised Research, Other - Outside UNT. (September 1, 2013 - August 1, 2014).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Macias, V.M., James, A.A. (2023). Gene drive applications for mosquito control. Gene Drives and The Malaria Eradication Agenda. Jenny Standford Publishing. https://www.jennystanford.com/9789814968331/mosquito-gene-drives-and-the-malaria-eradication-agenda/
  • Tarradas, G., Macias, V., Peterson, H., McKeand, S., Crawczyk, G., Rasgon, J.L. (2022). Receptor-mediated ovary transduction of cargo (ReMOT control): a comprehensive review and detailed protocol for implementation. Transgenic Insects-Techniques and Applications. (Second) 125-148. Boston, MA, CABI. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/book/10.1079/9781800621176.0000
  • Macias, V., James, A.A. (2014). Impact of genetic modification of vector populations on the malaria eradication agenda. Genetic control of malaria and dengue. 423-444.

    • Journal Article

  • Lau, N., Macias, V.M. (2024). Transposon and Transgene Tribulations in Mosquitoes: A Perspective of piRNA Proportions. DNA Repair. 4 (2) 104-128. MDPI. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11286205/pdf/nihms-2005567.pdf
  • Lima, L., Berni, M., Mota, J., Bressan, D., Julio, A., Cavalcante, R., Macias, V.M., Li, Z., Rasgon, J.L., Bier, E., Araujo, H. (2024). Gene editing in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus by Cas9-mediated ReMOT Control. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2 88-99. New Rochelle, NY, Gene Editing in the Chagas Disease Vector Rhodnius prolixus by Cas9-Mediated ReMOT Control. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/crispr.2023.0076?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
  • Urakova, N., Joseph, R.E., Huntsinger, A., Macias, V.M., Jones, M.J., Sigle, L.T., Li, M., Akbari, O.S., Xi, Z., Lymperopoulos, K., Sayre, R.T., McGraw, E.A., Rasgon, J.L. (2024). Alpha-mannosidase-2 modulates arbovirus infection in a pathogen- and Wolbachia-specific manner in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Insect Molecular Biology. 33 362-371. Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12904
  • Macias, V.M., Palatini, U., Bonizzoni, M., Rasgon, J.L. (2021). Lean into the Bite: The piRNA pathway as an exemplar for the Genetic Engineering need in mosquitoes. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.614342/full
  • Macias, V.M., Mc, S., Chaverra-Rodriguez, D., Hughes, G.L., Fazekas, A., Pujhari, S., Jasinkiene, N., Jamesa, A.A., Rasgon, J.L. (2020). Cas9-mediated gene-editing in the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi by ReMOT Control. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics.
  • Pujhari, S., Brustolin, M., Macias, V., Nissly, R., Nomura, M., Kuchipudi, S., Rasgon, J.L. (2019). Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) mediates Zika virus entry, replication, and egress from host cells. Emerging Microbes and Infections. 8 (1) 8-16. Online, Taylor and Francis Online. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2018.1557988
  • Chaverra-Rodriguez, D., Macias, V., Hughes, G.L., Pujhari, S., Suzuki, Y., Peterson, D., Kim, D., McKeand, S., Rasgon, J.L. (2018). Targeted delivery of CRISPR-associated endonuclease 9 (Cas9) into arthropod ovaries for heritable germline gene editing. Nature Communications. 9 (3008)
  • Macias, V., Ohm, J.R., Rasgon, J.L. (2017). Gene Drive for Mosquito Control: Where Did It Come from and Where Are We Headed?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/9/1006
  • Macias, V., Jimenez, A.J., Kojin, B.B., Pledger, D., Jasinkiene, N., Phong, C.H., Chu, K., Fazekas, A., Martin, K., Marinotti, O., James, A.A. (2017). nanos-driven expression of piggyBac transposase induces mobilization of a synthetic autonomous transposon in Anopheles stephensi.. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096517481730098X
  • Gantz, V.M., Jasinskiene, N., Tatarenkova, O., Fazekas, A., Macias, V., Bier, E., , A.A. (2015). Highly efficient Cas9-mediated gene drive for population modification of the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles stephensi.. PNAS: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (49) National Academy of Sciences. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1521077112
  • Macias, V.M., Coleman, J., Bonizzoni, M., James, A. (2014). piRNA pathway gene expression in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi. 5 579-86. Online, John Wiley and Sons.
  • James, B.K., Qi, Y., Pledger, D., Macias, V., James, A.A. (2014). Maternal germline-specific genes in the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi: characterization and application for disease control. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 5 (2)

Presentations Given

    Invited Talk

  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), International Congress of Entomology ICE 2024 Kyoto, Probing and Perturbing the piRNA Pathway {with Targeted Mosquito Genome Modifications}, Entomological Society of America, Kyoto, Japan, Japan. (2024 - 2024).
  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), SOVE 8th International Congress, Exploring small RNA biology in transgenic mosquitoes, Society for Vector Ecology, Honolulu, HI, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), Texas A&M Entomology Department Weekly Seminar, Expanding molecular genetics for basic and applied studies in mosquito biology, Texas A&M Entomology Department, College Station, TX, United States of America. (2022).
  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), ESA Southwestern Branch Meeting, Exploring small RNA Biology in transgenic mosquitoes, Entomology Society of America Southwestern Branch, Fort Worth, TX, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Macias, V. (Author & Presenter), Biofronteirs Seminar, An Expanded Molecular Toolbox for Genetic Engineering and Control of Mosquito-borne Disease, UNT Department of Biological Sciences, UNT campus, Denton TX, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), Penn State Undergraduate Millennium Scholars Program, On Disease Vector Biology, The Pennsylvania State University Millennium Scholars Program, PSU Campus, University Park, PA, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).

    • Keynote/Plenary Address

  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), 50th Annual Meeting of the Texas Genetics Society, Expanding molecular genetics for basic and applied studies in mosquito biology, Texas Genetics Society, Austin, TX, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).
  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), Beta Beta Beta National Honor Society South Central Region 2022 Convention, Genetic Engineering and Small RNAs in Mosquitoes: On Discovery and Building Effective Tools in the Dark., Beta Beta Beta National Honor Society South Central Region, Cedar Hill, TX, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).

    • Oral Presentation

  • Ayre, B.G. (Author & Presenter), McGarry, R.C. (Author), Macias, V.M. (Author), Horn, P. (Author), Shah, J. (Author), UNT BioDiscovery Institute Seminar Series, A Laser Microdissection System To Enhance Agricultural And Food Research In The North Texas And Southern Oklahoma Region, UNT BioDiscovery Institute, UNT, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Carrell, M. (Author & Presenter), Macias, V.M. (Author), 7th UNT-UAEM Workshop on Integrative Animal Biology, BacKnock in Mosquitoes, AERI, UNT COS, Department of Biological Sciences, NSF, UAEM-Taluca, Mexico, Mexico. (2023 - 2023).
  • Carrell, M. (Author & Presenter), Macias, V.M. (Author), Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) conference, Growing Sustainably: Partnering for a Resilient Future,, BacKnock: 3 Minute Madness, AERI, UNT EESAT, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).
  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), Vector Kolymbari Meeting, Exploring the microbial contribution to mosquito small RNAs, Vector Kolymbari Meeting, Kolymbari, Greece, Greece. (2022 - 2022).
  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), McKeand, S. (Author), Chaverra-Rodriguez, D. (Author), Hughes, G. (Author), Fazekas, A. (Author), Jasinkiene, N. (Author), Pujhari, S. (Author), James, A.A. (Author), Rason, J.L. (Author), Future of Malaria Research Symposium, Cas9-mediated gene-editing in the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi by ReMOT Control, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Macias, V.M. (Panelist), Women in Stem Brunch, Women in Stem Brunch, University Program Council, UNT, United States of America. (2022).

    • Poster

  • Dave, S. (Author & Presenter), Patel, C. (Author), Carlin, S. (Author), Popham, H. (Author), Macias, V.M. (Author), Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2024, Fitness impact of transgene elements in Cas9-expressing transgenic Anopheles stephensi lines, Entomological Society of America, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Gaul, C. (Author & Presenter), Carrell, M. (Author), Macias, V.M. (Author), ESA 2024 Annual Meeting, PiRNA Pathway Perturbation in adult Aedes Aegypti, Entomological Society of America, Phoenix, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Ihemeremadu, W. (Author), Brixuella, A. (Author & Presenter), Lau, N. (Author), Macias, V.M. (Author), Annual Congress of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Small RNA Dynamics in Mosquitoes: Insights into Transgene Recognition and Regulation, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, New Orleans, LA, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Qadri, T. (Author & Presenter), Macias, V.M. (Author), Annual Congress of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Understanding The Antibiotic Effects on Microbial Growth In Anopheles stephensi Mosquitoes: Correlating Optical Density Measurements with qPCR Analysis, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, New Orleans, LA, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Gaul, C. (Author & Presenter), Macias, V.M. (Author), 7th UNT-UAEM Workshop on Integrative Animal Biology, piRNA Pathway Transgenesis in Adult Yellow Fever Mosquitoes, AERI, UNT COS, UNT Dept of Biol Sci, NSF, UAEM Taluca, Mexico, Mexico. (2023 - 2023).
  • Tandon, A. (Author & Presenter), Macias, V.M. (Author), Research Day, Fitness assessment of Transgenic Mosquitoes, UNT College of Science, UNT Union, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).
  • Macias, V.M. (Author & Presenter), McKeand, S. (Author), Chaverra-Rodriguez, D. (Author), Hughes, G. (Author), James, A. (Author), Rasgon, J.L. (Author), Molecular and Population Biology of Mosquitoes and Other Disease Vectors, Heritable Mutagenesis in Anopheles stephensi by Adult injection using ReMOT Control, EMBO, Kolymbari, Greece, Greece. (2019 - 2019).

Media Contributions

    Magazine

  • "Genetically Modified Organisms-Mosquitoes," Science News. (October 23, 2023).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Root, D.D. (Principal), Bernardino, A. (Supporting), Ayre, B.G. (Supporting), McGarry, R.C. (Supporting), Shah, J. (Supporting), Dzialowski, E.M. (Supporting), Gu, F. (Supporting), Macias, V.M. (Supporting), Burleson, M. (Supporting), "COS 2025 Equipment Grant Program," sponsored by College of Science, Local, $78500 Funded. (2025).
  • Ayre, B.G., McGarry, R.C., Macias, V.M., Horn, P., Shah, J., "A Laser Microdissection System to Enhance Agricultural and Food Research in the North Texas and Southern Oklahoma Region," sponsored by USDA NIFA Equipment Grants Program, Federal, $341019 Funded. (2023 - 2027).
  • Macias, V.M., Gregory, A.J., "Establishing effective protocols for microbial enrichment and metagenome sequencing for submission of the grant “Holobiont genomics for exploring the roles of small RNAs in mosquito-microbe communications” to NSF-EDGE-FGT," sponsored by AERI, University of North Texas, $10000 Funded. (2023 - 2023).
  • Macias, V.M. (Principal), "Engineering novel piRNA biogenesis in the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti," sponsored by UNT College of Science, University of North Texas, $9000 Funded. (2022 - 2023).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, Ad Hoc committee to review departmental faculty service workload. (October 25, 2024 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Biology Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. (September 19, 2022 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Faculty Search Committee- Assistant Professor in Cell Biology. (August 26, 2022 - July 2023).
  • Committee Member, Faculty Search Committee- Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Biochemistry. (November 3, 2021 - May 2021).

Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Nature Communications. (September 19, 2024 - September 19, 2024).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Nature Communications. (February 2, 2024 - February 2, 2024).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, G3. (January 19, 2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, G3. (September 27, 2022).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, mBio - ASM Journals - American Society for Microbiology. (June 25, 2022).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, PLOS Genetics. (March 28, 2022).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Qeios. (September 1, 2021 - September 9, 2021).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Frontiers in Genetics. (December 1, 2020 - December 8, 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Insect Molecular Biology. (September 21, 2020 - September 28, 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal of Medical Entomology. (September 21, 2020 - September 21, 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Applied Sciences. (January 21, 2019 - January 28, 2019).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Insects. (November 1, 2018 - December 8, 2018).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. (October 15, 2018 - October 22, 2018).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. (May 24, 2017 - May 31, 2017).